Dear RVU Community:

I understand that there are a lot of questions surrounding how RVU is responding to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation and want to assure you that we are being proactive and putting processes in place to ensure the health and well being of our university and community.

As a follow-up to the Communicable Diseases Policy & Action Plan sent to the RVU Community on March 4, I am providing the following update:

Current Status:

Confirmed cases of COVID-19 are increasing internationally and within the US. As of this writing, there have been 12 confirmed cases in Colorado and 2 in Utah.

RVU Action:

The RVU Response Team has been activated as of last week. Members include:

• David Park, DO (team lead)
• Dennis Kinder, MD (medical officer)
• Julie Rosenthal (communications)
• Jennifer Badolato (CO medical operations)
• Kristine Jenkins (UT medical operations)
• Gary Pippin (operations)
• Andrew Stevens (CO security)
• Terry Meyer (UT security)
• Jerry Armstrong (human resources)
• Andrew Ambler, DO (infectious disease consultant)
• Tom Told, DO (academic affairs)
• Brad Ellis (IT)

The team is working to meet the following objectives:

1. Provide a safe and healthy environment in which to carry on the University’s affairs during an epidemic or pandemic outbreak, so far as is reasonably practicable.
2. Ensure optimal coordination, decision‐making, and communication between leadership of RVU, internal departments, affiliated clinical networks, and local health authorities.
3. Keep our RVU community educated and informed.
4. Implement measures to contain the spread of disease among the Rocky Vista University and local community.
5. Safely and responsibly continue services and functions of the University during an epidemic or pandemic.
6. Ensure the timely return of any interrupted university services when determined safe to do so.

This team will communicate updates via email coming from COVID-19 Response Team or covid19@rvu.edu.  Please carefully read all communications and take appropriate action to ensure your safety and the safety of our community.

In the meantime, if you are ill or feel you may have been exposed to the coronavirus, please stay home and observe the following protocols:

• Employees are to contact their direct supervisor immediately. The supervisor will then contact HR (Patty Gordon in CO and Kristin Shute in UT) who will then contact the Response Team as necessary. The University may impose quarantine if a direct threat is present.
• Students are to contact their Associate/Assistant Dean (Ms. Schlueter, Dr. Roos, or Dr. Miller) who will then contact Dr. Told or Dr. Park. The University may impose a quarantine if a direct threat is present.

Questions or concerns regarding symptoms and possible exposure can be received from your personal healthcare provider or local state health departments.

• Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s COVID-19 website and/or hotline at (303) 389-1687
• Utah Department of Health’s COVID-19 website and/or hotline at (800) 456-7707

Any additional questions may be addressed to the team at covid19@rvu.edu. Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding as we work together to keep our community safe during this challenging time.